Anomen vs. Keldon

[Klutz]

You've mentioned that you have a PC Sorcerer, Aerie, and of course Anomen and Keldorn in your party, and that you booted Jaheira and don't want her back. Anyone else currently in your party?

Without going into detail, whether you decide to ditch Keldorn or Anomen, based on your stated preferences so far and what we know of your party, Minsc would be the best fit as a replacement.

*Spoilers* (NPC relationship conflicts and details about NPC's abilities only)
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Keldorn, as an Inquisitor kit Paladin, has the abilities to cast True Sight and a super-power Dispel Magic, which are both extremely handy but not irreplacable. (Both Anomen and Aerie can cast True Sight and Dispel Magic, although the Dispel Magic won't be as effective as Keldorn's.) If you want to keep your party good/neutral, Minsc would be a good replacement for Keldorn. The evil option is Korgan, but he will get into a conflict with Aerie. Valygar (the Umar Hills ranger you mentioned) would also, but Valygar as a Stalker can't wear heavy armor, so if you were counting on having two plate-mail tanks in your party, be aware that Valygar can't quite fill that role the way Minsc can. He's still an awesome and very useful PC.

Anomen is kinda unique among PC's in that he can both get Cleric abilities to high level and still perform ably as a Fighter. He'd be tougher to replace. The closest actual replacement would be Jaheira. I know you've already ruled her out, but if you do decide to ditch Anomen I'd at least give her a second thought... getting rid of her curse isn't that hard if you can deal with her personality. Cernd, as you mentioned, replaces most of the Cleric capability but at the cost of frontline power. (Shapeshifted he can do some damage though.) Viconia will get into a conflict with Keldorn, so she won't work either. If you chose to replace Anomen, instead of going for a less capable cleric I'd just lean more heavily on Aerie for Cleric spells in your party and go with another front-line fighter.

[Voltrath]

I have pc sorcerer, minsc, keldon, anomen, aerie, jan. Can you bring jahira back somehow? She died to the curse. Who is Viconia? I don't mind about Valygar's armor - I can give hime some stuff to make his armor class -8. The thing is that I wanted two priests-not druids, because of spells such as raise dead and restoration, and only one charachter with raise dead doesn't seem enough. I have installed the item upgrade mod, so i can have +5 liacor and +5 celestial fury which can comete with holy avenger. Anyway is Minsc or Valtgar better? Also if there is a way to "bring back" Jahira (she lies dead in coper cornet) that would be really helpfull.

note: I am on the end of chapter 3, so don't say anything that includes NPCs or items or anything from chapter 4 onward, or say "spoiler - chapter4(or after)"

Thanks

[Pirengle]

Originally posted by Voltrath:

I have pc sorcerer, minsc, keldon, anomen, aerie, jan. Can you bring jahira back somehow? She died to the curse.

Once she's gone that way, she's gone forever. Sorry. There is a time limit on that quest...

Who is Viconia?

Go check out the Prison area of the Government District.

I don't mind about Valygar's armor - I can give hime some stuff to make his armor class -8.

The Improved Items mod can improve upon Valygar's armor.

The thing is that I wanted two priests-not druids, because of spells such as raise dead and restoration, and only one charachter with raise dead doesn't seem enough.

If you've met a guy named Haer'Dalis, you're close to solving the raising dead problem. As for restoration, the game provides some nice Negative Plane Protection items, and the druids have the NPP spell.

Don't underestimate the druids! They get some great anti-mage spells (Creeping Doom, anyone?) as well as elemental summons that are automatically charmed, as opposed to the ones mages can summon that the mage has to spend ~3 rounds in a mental battle trying to control them with a good chance of failure (and a hostile elemental!).

I have installed the item upgrade mod, so i can have +5 liacor and +5 celestial fury which can comete with holy avenger. Anyway is Minsc or Valtgar better?

Depends, what are you going to use them for? Minsc is a plainclass ranger, proficient in long bows (and composite bows, thanks to his strength), two-handed swords, maces, and two-handed weapon style. He's goofy, has neat NPC interactions, and can function well as a fighter or an archer. Valygar, on the other hand, has the Stalker kit. He can backstab and cast a few mage spells as well as priest spells, but he can only wear armor a thief can wear and backstab with weapons a thief can use. He has a major quest associated with him, and forms a bond with a certain NPC. He makes a nice bowman.

Also if there is a way to "bring back" Jahira (she lies dead in coper cornet) that would be really helpfull.

Nope--once's she's dead, she's dead. And once a dead party member's out of your party, they're gone for good.

[SixOfSpades]

There is indeed a "Happy Group" MOD that supposedly prevents all interparty conflicts and Alignment/Reputation problems. It's too much like cheating for me, though. It's not like I can go up to people and have them stop fighting just by *asking* them to.

Aerie, by herself, is an adequate substitute for Anomen. True, she can't Tank like he can, but half a Cleric is really all you should need.

Morgeruat, that's why Slackbladder suggested "Korgan for Keldorn" along with "Viconia for Anomen."

As for making Cernd a worthwhile party member, Morgeruat mentioned the "Rebalanced Shapeshifter" component, which is part of the Ease-Of-Use MOD. This will turn Cernd into a practically unkillable juggernaut of destrction who will literally plow through the game all by himself and leave the rest of the party behind to sweep up the debris....if that's what you were looking for. Me, I'd just like a nice Priest, thanks all the same.

[Voltrath]

How often does it happen that keldon would fight with anomen? Should i risk havenig them in the party and always load if they fight? What is the chance of them fighting? Where can i find the "happy party mod"?

Is minsk or valygar better? (valygar has celestila fury +5)

[Pirengle]

Originally posted by Voltrath:

How often does it happen that keldon would fight with anomen? Should i risk havenig them in the party and always load if they fight? What is the chance of them fighting?

If Anomen botched his test, then he and Keldorn are not going to get along and things are only going to get worse. Either a) redo or b) drop one or the other. If you don't do either, then eventually they're going to settle things by turning the other into chunky salsa.

Where can i find the "happy party mod"?

Check Dundee's FAQ for a link to the WeiDU mods.

Is minsk or valygar better? (valygar has celestila fury +5)

It all depends on gear, proficiency points, etc.

There is no clear-cut "best NPC ever" or "best party ever" in BG2. If certain NPCs stood out, then everybody would make parties with them and everybody would always make games centered on these characters and the game would get really boring after a while.

We've all done our best to give you suggestions, but the choice is up to you. [img]smile.gif[/img]

PS: Good gear does not always guarantee a good character. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[Nerull]

Originally posted by Voltrath: My pc is a sorcerer and the only two clerics are aerie and anomen. I lost jahira to the curse and I didn't like her anyway. I was thinking of getting rid of Keldon for the guy from Umar Hills that opend the Planar Sphere. Is paladin really important? Also the other option would be replacing Anomen with Cernd, but he can't wear armor and has limited weapon use (and his shapeshifting isn't anything special) - he'd be the weakest party member. Or is there some stuff that can make him good?

SPOILER
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Honestly, you have plenty of magic, so I would just add Valygar long enough to get into the quest area for him (i.e. bring him into the party, then open the door to the Planar Sphere, then boot him out). You could boot out Keldorn or Jan long enough to do so, then pick them back up afterwards (have them go to the Copper Coronet after leaving, and they will be right in the same district with the sphere). I would keep Anomen; I find him to be a very strong member of the party, but more so if he passes his test. Keldorn, if you do his quest, will eventually have an option to leave the party for good. However, if you can't wait that long, then consider adding Mazzy. She is an awesome archer that can wear heavy armors. Her only real downside is a lower strength (buy the Girdle of Hill Giant Strength from the Adventurer's Mart). Once you upgrade her strength, she can hang in close combat with the rest of them, and is positively lethal when you pull her back and use a good short bow (Tasheron's Bow or Gesen Bow).

[Cannibal Monkey]

Sorry to hijack the thread, but since nobody else seems to be using it atm...

What choices do I have to make to get Anomen to pass his test?

When his sister dies, what do I choose then?

I only just did what I thought was right with his sister (so that he didn't get revenge, and basically nothing much happened), and I havent done the test bit yet, so I dont want to wait ages then have to redo everything just to get Anomen to complete it properly.

[slicer15]

Yes, steering him away from the path of revenge is good. Keep doing that, and also, try to complete any quests that involve helping people. I'm not sure, but I failed the test once for not having rescued that guy's daughter in the...oh dammit...Windspear Hills..so I would do that first. Try to not have any outstanding quests in your journal. Sorry, that's all the advice I can give! Hope it helped!

EDIT: Remembered the place name...

[ 04-26-2003, 04:08 PM: Message edited by: slicer15 ]

[Cannibal Monkey]

Thanks, but I'm after something more spoilerish and specific than that.